Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: DKNY Cap-Sleeve Scoopneck Dress

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

I’ve been ogling this beautiful scoopneck dress for a few weeks now — I love the pleat details at the shoulders and gathering at the waist, especially when paired with the scoopneck. The red is a classic, and the whole dress has a timeless elegance. It’s $245 at Saks Fifth Avenue. DKNY Cap-Sleeve Scoopneck Dress

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Also love the dress, also not sure I love/would want to wear this much red. I do like that it’s a more orange-y red, as opposed to a blue red, which makes it feel more modern to me (and thus less 80’s/early 90s).

I don’t love the fact that it’s a dry clean only synthetic. Acetate & polyester for over $100? No, thanks. But if I stumble on it at Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off Fifth in 6 months and it’s marked down about 60%, it comes home with me! :)

I think that blue-red vs. orange-y red is choice that depends upon one’s skin tone. For me, blue-red — in modest quantities — is flattering. I’ve really fair skin tone. When I have a tan, the orange-y deal looks better.

Same with purple — with me, doesn’t work with a tan, does when I’m pale.

Love and totally want! Good thing it’s decidedly out of my price range.

I actually own a sheath dress this same shade of red that I LOVE. With a cardigan or blazer, the cut of the dress is very office appropriate (the dress itself is sleeveless). But I just cannot get passed the idea that that much red would be alot for the office. It just seems a little too Joan Holloway (though I love LOVE Joan Holloway and this shade of red).

Love, love, love Charming Charlie! I buy most of my trendy accessories there-handbags, scarves, costume jewelry. The prices are great, and the quality is marginal (related to the price), but I usually only wear the trendy stuff for a season, so I don’t mind. The selection is honestly incredible, in every color of the rainbow. I’m so excited for you! I miss the store in Atlanta.

Threadjack… Any suggestions on how to gracefully turn down a job offer? Over the course of the interview process, I have grown friendly with the person who would be my boss, and he has gone to great lengths to put together an attractive package and offer. However, the job doesn’t feel right and I’m really not interested (I had that feeling early on in the process, but thought I would let everything play out to see if I would learn anything along the way to change my view, and unfortunately I haven’t). I’m worried, however, that he is going to think I have “led him on” (in a professional capacity only, of course!) if I express my concerns at this point. How do I tell him “it’s not you, it’s me”?! Thanks for your thoughts!

And love the red dress– bought one last year for my high school reunion that I absolutely love wearing and found it to be surprisingly versatile with all sorts of colors and for all sorts of settings.

This is a tough one. I had a similar situation this summer, though the job was within my company. I ended up being very candid with the hiring manager and telling him that I really wanted the job and was flattered he made me the offer because I had no technical expertise in the area, but I could not make it work. It would require too much adjustment on my part (large move for my family, etc). I specifically said, “I realize that we have negotiated for a few weeks, and that was because I was so interested in the job, but ultimately the rest of the offer didn’t work for me. I’m sorry that it took so long, but it was a very difficult decision. Was there a better way that I could have handled it?” He responded that I couldn’t have handled it differently. I’m not sure he meant it, but at least it showed him that I struggled.

Fortunately, he was so understanding that he came back to me 6 months later and said they were getting ready to extend an offer to someone else but wanted to take another run at me. This time I took the job.

It’s probably not exactly the same situation, but I found that showing how difficult the deliberations were helped the situation overall. Hope that helps. It’s a tough spot, but congrats on the offer any way!

I think this makes sense. Remember how it goes when the shoe is on the other foot, and an applicant is being turned down for a job after a long period of being “led on.” How does the employer try to smooth it over? They emphasize how hard a decision it was. That’s why they say it took so long. Not necessarily true, but you can’t argue with it–and the same logic applies to you here.

Also that way, as Anon2 points out, if this person ever knows of another similar opening in the future, hopefully he will still think of you. Maybe next time the terms of the job will be more appealing.

FYI folks there’s a nearly identical dress at Ann Taylor in green and i think possibly other colors — i just scooped it up at the store and it’s gorgeous and way prettier than the anntaylor website makes it look (the model on the webpage is holding her hand over the slight ruching/tailoring at the waist, totally obscuring it = dumb). medium-weight jersey, i think maybe $80-90. perfect for work or going out.

Anyone have some great suggestions for positive, encouraging things to say to your s.o. right before they take a huge set of academic exams?

I don’t like “good luck” (what does luck have to do with it?) or “you’ll do great!” (how do I know?) and I’m struggling for something not cliche and very reassuring. What helps YOU when you need that last bit of “Yeah, I’ve got this!” feeling right before you sit for something major?

I usually just tell people that I’ll be sending good vibes their way/thinking of them, etc. I have to tell you, it SUCKS when people tell you that “you’ll do great!” because when you don’t, it’s the most awful feeling in the world. Not only have you not done well on an important exam, but you feel like you’ve disappointed someone who was probably just being nice. And then you feel bad about it.

What about something similar to the other suggestions along with “What’s the worst that can happen?” That way he/she will not feel like a complete loser if they fail, and it also puts things into perspective. Yes, it is a very important exam, but if he/she fails, it’s not the end of the world. People fail the bar exam, and others, all the time, and it doesn’t mean that they are not smart or didn’t prepare well.

I agree with this. When I was freaking out about the bar the SO had a little mantra: “I have faith in you, you’re prepared for this. And if something goes wrong, we’ll deal with it together. I’ll still love you, you’ll still love me and nothing’s a big deal if we’re facing it together.”

I return the favor now that he’s back in school and has difficult exams and I’m the one working. It really kinda puts things in perspective.

I like things along the lines of “you are prepared for this” and “I’m proud of you.” My dad always says “I’ll have my brain shut off for you” (so I can use his brain power, of course), which always makes me smile.

These are all really thoughtful replies. Generally, I try to make DH laugh so he relaxes rather than try to come up with something inspiring. I usually end up doing something ridiculous, like slapping his a** and shouting “encouragement” a la the creepy yoga guy in “Couples Retreat.” He knows I believe in him, and he knows if it doesn’t work out for some reason that we’ll work together to fix it in the next go-round, but in the meantime he just needs to relax and not psych himself out.

Just wanted to post in case anyone needs a light puffy coat in size M or L — Overstock dot com has a couple from Cole Haan in their “clearance bin” for $40/$50; as well as a really cute wool/cashmere pea coat (size 8 only) — pretty amazing, imo. One of those “just had to share” sales!

I’ve got two pairs of loafers like this that I LOVE, one black patent Cole Haan pair with a slightly pointed toe, and a carmel coloured leather pair. Great for casual Fridays, or even with a skirt suit.

I saw this IRL and the description is accurate when it states that the shirt has “lingerie lightness”. It trends very much towards the sheer side, and I could clearly see the wearer’s bra (which was a skin-tone-appropriate color, plain style – not like it was black lace showing through!). I don’t think you could get away with this at work.

I have this shirt, it is very very light, and thin, but I don’t find the neck too low cut. I actually do wear it to work, under a suit. It isn’t sheer, just thin, but I still wouldn’t walk around the office in it alone.

there is a huge difference between a red blazer, which comprises 1/3 of your outfit, and a red dress, which is the whole enchilada. I actually love the suggestion above to wear it with beige and I think red would look good with the whole brown family (potentially better with the lighter shades, like tan, taupe, wheat). I would wear it with a wheat-colored dress and brown shoes. And gray, obviously, because gray is the best color.